Headlines

Most cases of animal cruelty are caused by the owner, says Swiss lawyer

'Animal lawyers' vote attracts foreign press attention

by Marcus Berry

February 9, 2010 | 10:06

With the impact of last year's minaret referendum still reverberating around the country and the world, voters in Switzerland are gearing up to decide another issue starting to catch the attention of the international press – whether specialist lawyers should be assigned to represent domesticated animals in a court of law. Groups in Switzerland take sides ahead of the March 7 vote and the outcome is far from certain.

Full story

Lifestyle
	Anglo-Swiss duo breathe new life into neglected Ticino spa
	February 9, 2010 \| 07:48	by Catherine Richards

An ambitious project to redevelop the thermal spa of Acquarossa in Ticino's Valle di Blenio is unveiled at a press conference in the canton. Plans include a spa, four-star hotel with 120 rooms and a therapy...Full story

Society
	Prospects brighten for Swiss hostages in Libya
	February 8, 2010 \| 16:09	by Malcolm Curtis

A court decision in Tripoli acquitting Rachid Hamdani, one of two Swiss businessmen detained in Libya for more than 18 months, should clear the way for his return to Switzerland, Amnesty International...Full story

Business
	Profits tumble for Swiss mining company
	February 8, 2010 \| 11:55	by Giles Broom

Profits plunge by 41 per cent in 2009, says Zug-based mining company Xstrata in a results statement published on Monday, blaming recessionary demand and lower commodity prices for the poor figures. But...Full story

Sports
	Man survives 17-hour burial as avalanche peril persists
	February 8, 2010 \| 11:18	by Marcus Berry

A series of avalanches sweep Alpine slopes in Europe this weekend killing seven people. In Switzerland, 11 people are buried but manage to free themselves or are located. One skier, aged 21, survives under...Full story

Business
	UBS expects immigration to help propel Swiss economy
	February 8, 2010 \| 11:06	by Malcolm Curtis

Economists at UBS upgrade their predictions for the Swiss economy, calling for two percent growth in 2010, aided in part by continued immigration to the country by foreigners in search of jobs. Not everyone...Full story

Culture
	Display mars beauty of masterpieces at Hermitage
	February 8, 2010 \| 02:50	by Michèle Laird

The exhibition ’100 masterpieces from the Städel Museum’ in Frankfurt on loan to the Hermitage Foundation in Lausanne has some wonderful art to show, but somehow the exhibition hasn’t got it quite...Full story

America’s Cup promises decisive yachting duel
In the wake of legal wrangling, the 33rd America’s Cup yacht competition is finally set to launch on Monday, pitting the pride of Switzerland - Alinghi - against USA, the American challenger. The first...

Full storyFebruary 5, 2010 | 10:49by Malcolm Curtis

Greek turmoil strengthens franc, say experts
Economists say Swiss business should be wary of Greece’s debt problem and growing public unrest in the Mediterranean country. Protests form in the streets of Athens in response to government economic...

Full storyFebruary 5, 2010 | 09:50by Giles Broom

Infections can cause cancer, warns campaign
One in every five cancers is caused by infection. To alert public opinion to this little-known fact, a massive campaign by the International Union against Cancer (UICC) on the theme of prevention updates...

Full storyFebruary 5, 2010 | 09:48by Michèle Laird

Mintaka Foundation gains cash for anti-HIV trial
A research group attached to the University of Geneva receives 4.5 million francs from the UK’s Wellcome Trust to pursue a safety trial for a ‘microbicide’ that promises to protect women and children...

Full storyFebruary 4, 2010 | 17:32by Malcolm Curtis

Reeling from Prius problems, Toyota reassures Swiss
On the back of 1.8 million car recalls in Europe, Toyota faces new consumer disquiet after American and Japanese drivers report brake problems with its flagship Prius model. Toyota Switzerland has set...

Full storyFebruary 4, 2010 | 11:11by Giles Broom

Mammoth findings on display in Lucerne museum
Archeologists often use instruments as delicate as a scalpel to uncover historic remains, but one of the most prominent exhibits at Lucerne's Museum of Natural History finds its way there in a more rough-and-ready...

Full storyFebruary 4, 2010 | 09:50by Susan Vogel-Misicka

Frosty St. Moritz cricket festival slips into action
If the cricket season seems a long way off, lovers of the game can travel to St. Moritz, where the annual Cricket On Ice tournament starts Thursday on the resort’s frozen lake at 1850 metres. It is surely...

Full storyFebruary 4, 2010 | 08:43by Daniel Johnson

Vaud museums pat themselves on the back
The annual press conference given by the cultural authorities of Vaud and Lausanne on February 2 offered a glowing panorama of the vitality of the official museums and exhibition spaces throughout the...

Full storyFebruary 3, 2010 | 11:19by Michèle Laird

British thank Swiss for Olympic preparation
The UK Olympic ski team makes it to Vancouver this week, with considerable help from Swiss training facilities and some financial juggling by its near bankrupt sports federation. Swisster talks to people...

Full storyFebruary 3, 2010 | 10:28by Giles Broom

What’s on: Wedding garb, white turf and a wild ride
A look at what’s going on over the next few days, including cricket and horse races on the frozen lake of St. Moritz. Shopaholics should head to Basel for the MUBA, while the betrothed may find a trip...

Full storyFebruary 3, 2010 | 07:38by Susan Vogel-Misicka

DuPont unveils new Geneva solar technology lab
With use of solar power expected to grow by leaps and bounds over the coming years, multinational DuPont opens a research and development centre in Geneva that aims to make the technology more efficient....

Full storyFebruary 2, 2010 | 15:40by Malcolm Curtis

Globegarden breaks new ground in bilingual childcare
Globegarden, a network of bilingual nursery/kindergartens that caters to the needs of working parents is the new concept in early childhood care that a group of young business women have started in Zurich....

Full storyFebruary 2, 2010 | 13:00by Michèle Laird

Swiss finance plays down impact of Obama rules
Speculation grows on the impact of new US regulations, as Barack Obama aims to break up investment banks, pushing out proprietary traders who buy and sell securities on the bank’s own account, as opposed...

Full storyFebruary 2, 2010 | 11:26by Giles Broom

Drop in water vapour curbs global warming, says study
Scientists find that a 10 percent drop in water vapour in the Earth’s atmosphere has a considerable impact on global warming. However, they're not sure why it occurs or when it may shift in the opposite...

Full storyFebruary 2, 2010 | 10:43by Marcus Berry

Commercial landlords face economic squeeze
Businesses seeking office space are in the driver’s seat in 2010, according to a new study of Switzerland’s commercial property market. Colliers, the real estate consultant, says vacancy rates will...

Full storyFebruary 2, 2010 | 08:50by Malcolm Curtis

Davos paves way for banking insurance levy
Networking in Davos comes to a close with the end of the 40th World Economic Forum annual meeting on Sunday. A tentative agreement on a new global banking insurance levy answers some of the questions over...

Full storyFebruary 1, 2010 | 11:56by Giles Broom

Federer extends greatness with destruction of Murray
Roger Federer reemphasises his authority on the all-time list of tennis greats after handily beating Scot Andy Murray in the final of the Australian Open in Melbourne on Sunday. The three-set win (6-3...

Full storyFebruary 1, 2010 | 11:01by Marcus Berry

'Stolen' bank data threatens Swiss-German relations
A fresh controversy emerges over Switzerland’s reputation as a tax haven as the German government is offered data from an in informant about the Swiss bank accounts of 1,500 citizens, according to a...

Full storyFebruary 1, 2010 | 09:07by Malcolm Curtis